Man attacks air hostess mid-flight

A drunk man on a flight from Istanbul to Manchester has attacked and intimidated an attendant on a Turkish Airlines flight on Thursday. The 40-year-old Belgian man, Guy Lardinois, was confronted by the air hostess after she suspected he was smoking in one of the plane toilets.

Denying the claims, Lardinois ordered another drink, before he began shouting abuse at the rear of the aircraft.

That’s when Lardinois approached the 24-year-old flight attendant and said: “Do you know what I’m going to do to you? You’re f***** up.”

The man then attempted to strike the woman, who shielded herself with her hands, covering her face.

The prosecutor revealed in the court proceedings that “another passenger then rugby tackled the defendant and knocked him to the floor.”

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The father-of-one received a broken leg in the tackle and pleaded guilty to common assault and being drunk while on the flight.  

Defending Matthew Corn said the reason behind his client’s behaviour was because he was travelling for a funeral and the four gin and tonics combined with his ‘sombre’ mood was enough to push him off the edge.

“This is so out of character, he is utterly ashamed of himself,” Corn said. “He’s let himself down by his foolishness on this flight.”

Lardinois was given a six-month sentence suspended for two years and was instructed to pay a £600 fine

He also has to pay £100 compensation, a £115 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

What do you think about this mid-flight incident? Do you think his punishment fit the crime? Let us know in the comments section below.